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Europe is home to some of the best football clubs in the world. Europe's top five leagues, namely the Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A and Ligue 1 are home to the best players on the planet. The standard of football is very high across all these domestic leagues.
The UEFA Champions League is usually dominated and won by teams from Europe's top five leagues. However, the quality across all leagues is not similar. The Premier League is the most unpredictable and competitive of the lot owing to the sheer number of top quality teams present in the English top-flight.
Two of the last three Champions League finals were played between English teams. Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid are the three stalwarts in La Liga but the Catalans and the Rojiblancos have been nowhere near best this term.
The Bundesliga continues to be dominated by Bayern Munich. Juventus have been knocked off their perch in Serie A with the Milan teams making a return to the top. PSG have had Ligue 1 in a chokehold for several seasons now. But which among these clubs is the best in Europe?
Without further ado, let's take a look at five of the best clubs in Europe right now.
#5 Real Madrid
Real Madrid have been one of the most dominant teams in the history of the Champions League. They have won the Champions League four times in the last decade alone. But they have mostly come second-best to Barcelona in the league.
However, Real Madrid have done considerably better than their bitter rivals this season. Carlo Ancelotti's men have a six-point lead at the top of the La Liga table after 25 games. Karim Benzema, Vinicius Jr., Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, Casemiro, David Alaba, Eder Militao and Thibaut Courtois have all been world-class this term.
They conceded a 1-0 loss to PSG at the Santiago Bernabeu in the first leg of their Champions League Round of 16 tie last week. Real Madrid are now at risk of facing an unceremonious exit from the competition.
#4 Paris Saint-Germain
On paper, Paris Saint-Germain might be the strongest team on the continent. They have Lionel Messi, Neymar Jr. and Kylian Mbappe leading their attack. PSG also have quality all over the pitch.
Players like Gianluigi Donnarumma, Keylor Navas, Marquinhos, Marco Verratti, Sergio Ramos and Achraf Hakimi are all world-class. But PSG have not exactly been as dominant this season as they were expected to be this season.
They maintain a 13 point lead at the top of the Ligue 1 table. PSG have beaten Real Madrid 1-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League Round of 16 tie. They are looking to win that ever elusive Champions League trophy and have enough firepower to go on and achieve it this term.
#3 Liverpool
Liverpool are one of the most exciting and entertaining sides in all of Europe. The Merseysiders can be ruthless in attack with the likes of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Diogo Jota, Roberto Firmino and Luis Diaz on their payroll.
Jurgen Klopp's gegenpressing system has been executed to perfection by this Liverpool side and they play an attacking style of football with great elan. They have been quite consistent this season and are yet to lose a game at home across the Premier League and the Champions League this season.
Liverpool have clawed back into the Premier League title race after registering five successive wins in their last five outings. They are ready to give Manchester City a run for their money. That is an achievement in itself given how incredible Pep Guardiola's men have been this season.
#2 Bayern Munich
Bayern Munich have been utterly dominant in the Bundesliga in the recent past. They have won the league nine times on-the-trot since the 2012-13 season and are well on their way to securing a 10th successive league title this term.
The Bavarians have a six-point lead at the top of the table. They have arguably the best striker in all of Europe in Robert Lewandowski. Thomas Muller is the finest support striker in Europe as well. In fact, their starting XI has far too many talented players.
Leroy Sane, Serge Gnabry, Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka and Alphonso Davies are all players who can win matches on their own. Bayern Munich have been dominant in the Champions League as well and will be looking to have a deep run in Europe's elite competition this season.
#1 Manchester City
When Manchester City are playing, they are producing wave after wave of attacks. It doesn't matter who the opposition is, Pep Guardiola's men will make them play their game. City have one of the most expensive squads in the world and they have top quality players in each and every position.
They are at the top of the Premier League table right now. City have also made the extraordinary look easy. Last week, they visited Sporting Lisbon in the first leg of their Champions League Round of 16 tie and absolutely dismantled them. Manchester City won the game 5-0.
They are unstoppable on their day and will be desperate to win that ever elusive Champions League title this term after losing the final of the 2020-21 edition to Chelsea.
